Sports bettors have been piling on Jonathan Woodgate to become the next Middlebrough manager following his appointment as one of the club’s first-team coaches, odds comparison website Oddschecker has revealed.

Almost half of all bets on the next Boro boss market in the last 24 hours have been on Woodgate since the club announced on Tuesday that the former Boro and England defender was rejoining the club as a first-team coach.

Woodgate expressed his desire to go into management when he made a guest appearance on Goals on Sunday back in August and his new role at hometown club Boro is his first step into coaching.

There has been a surprising and massive shift in momentum since his appointment in the next Boro boss stakes, with 45% of bets on Woodgate to be named Aitor Karanka’s successor.